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April 3, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDTRONIC TO PAY $26 MILLION JUDGMENT TO DEPUY SPINE FOR VIOLATING SPINAL DEVICE PATENT Date Also Set for New Trial Involving Same Patent, Similar Medtronic Screws RAYNHAM, MA, April 3, 2007 - DePuy Spine, Inc. announced that Medtronic, Inc. is paying the company more than $26 million in damages to satisfy a federal appeals court ruling that found Medtronic violated a spinal device patent held by DePuy Spine. In December 2006, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a verdict reached by a federal jury in October 2004 that found that Medtronic's MAS screws infringed on the DePuy Spine patent. Such screws are used in spinal surgery to correct a variety of spinal defects. In another development, a court date has now been set to find if Medtronic's Vertex screws also infringe on the same DePuy Spine patent. The trial is set to begin on September 4, 2007 in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. "We will continue to vigorously defend our patents and intellectual property," said Gary Fischetti, President, DePuy Spine. Biedermann Motech GmbH, a supplier of medical and orthopedic products based in Germany, owns the patent in question and DePuy Spine is the U.S. licensee. About DePuy Spine DePuy Spine, a Johnson & Johnson company, has worked and partnered with leading clinicians, researchers, and thought leaders to develop products to treat spine disorders for over 20 years. The company is committed to advancing the knowledge of all health care professionals and their patients in addressing spinal pathologies. #### |
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